Network star Bryan Cranston appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert May 8, having recently been nominated for a Tony Award for his performance as “mad prophet of the airwaves” Howard Beale.

Cranston, a Tony winner for All the Way, talked about maintaining his performance for a long run—having done the role for five months in London and seven here on Broadway.

“You know what’s interesting is that you and I have a dilemma but in the opposite way," said Cranston. “I tell the same story every night to a brand new audience, whereas you have to tell a new story every night to the same audience.”

Cranston constantly digs for ways to rev himself up for a performance. As a matter of fact, Colbert went to see Network on Broadway and Cranston saw him from the stage. “I find it invigorating to spot people that you know. We’re talking about what can motivate you to do that 180th show,” he continued, “and it’s knowing people who I respect in the audience and I go, ‘OK, I’m just really gonna give it a shot here.’”

Cranston loves the ephemeral nature of the theatre and that “you either see the production or you didn’t.” But he did wish more of The Late Show audience had seen him in Network, which is why he invited the full audience to that evening’s performance. He and Colbert then led the crowd from the Ed Sullivan Theatre, where The Late Show tapes, to the Network’s Belasco Theatre.